Bearsden man hopes to
bowl opposition over

A TALENTED Bearsden bowler will represent Scotland at the prestigious Junior International Bowling Tournament in Worthing this September - a first for the sport in the district.

David Miller (24) will skip one of the four teams that will take on the best young up-and-coming bowlers from across England, Ireland and Wales over three days starting on September 9 at the Worthing Pavilion Bowling Club.

The Westerton Bowling Club member from Kinglas Road was in confident mood and told Herald sport this week: “This is a fantastic opportunity for me and the rest of the team.

“It will be a great honour to represent Scotland in the junior internationals. I think we can win.”

The graduate design engineer from Hamilton College is currently training and playing between four and five times a week and started playing when he was 12 with his grandad Joe.

This is the first time David has represented Scotland at this annual event and was noticed by selectors when he was in the East Dunbartonshire squad playing against other regions.

The young player was asked to come to a trial at Blackhill on Sunday June 19 and because he was playing very well at the time he was picked.

He added: “Only 26 players will be going to the tournament, drawn from throughout Scotland.

“No-one at Westerton Bowling Club can remember anyone representing the club at this level before, so I think it is a first for them and this is something I’m very proud of this.”

David also said he believes it could be a first for the district as no-one he has spoken to can remember a bowler for either Milngavie or Bearsden being selected to represent Scotland.

The 26 members are made up of six teams - or rinks as they are known in bowling - made up of four, with two reserves.

Westerton Bowling Club president Dougie McCulloch, said: “As a club we are exceptionally proud to have someone like David represent Scotland at under 25 level.

“We are always trying to encourage younger players into the club and this will go along way to promote this and show that bowling is a sport that can be enjoyed at any age.”

In 2008 David and his sister Ann became the first bowlers to jointly win Westerton Bowling Club gents’ and ladies’ club championships.

The event was a knockout competition which ran from April through to the end of August.

BOWLED OVER . . . David Miller is looking forward to representing Scotland in the International Bowling Championships in Worthing. (Ref: M11171) Picture: EMMA MITCHELL